RP-South Korea ties in war and peace extolled

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna – Partners in times of "war and peace," particularly in research and development (R&D).

This is what the Philippines and South Korea have become over the decades. In recent years, agriculture R&D administrators from the two countries have committed to continue being strong partners in R&D to further boost their agriculture economies.

"With the establishment of PhilRAA, I believe that a more fruitful partnership between the Philippines and Korea will be realized," stressed executive director Patricio S. Faylon of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCARRD).

Los Baños-based PCARRD is DOST’s sectoral planning body that coordinates, evaluates, and monitors agriculture, forestry and natural resources research in the country.

PhilRAA stands for Philippine-Korea, Rural Development Administration Alumni Association, which was organized during a recent meeting here.

The new PCARRD-based association aims to establish and sustain linkage between and among fellows and trainees from the Philippine national agricultural research institutions, organizations, councils, states colleges and universities (SCUs), and other entities and RDA.

Specifically, PhilRAA aims to forge liaison between and among members through various activities such as conferences, seminars, dialogues, civic and non-civic activities; to provide a venue for information and technology exchange and sharing related to R&D in agriculture and natural resources; and to promote camaraderie, brotherhood, and solidarity among its members.

Now composing PhilRAA are those who have received training program grants of the RDA, enabling them to have a stint in South Korea as visiting scientists/researchers and participants in scientific and R&D activities.

To date, 63 professionals belonging to SCUs and R&D institutions in the country have trained in various fields in South Korea since RDA and PCARRD formally entered into an agreement of cooperation in 1995, reported Richard Juanillo, director of PCARRD’s Planning and Development Division who was elected first president of PhilRAA.

Elected with Juanillo were Julian Lapitan of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), vice president; Dr. Jocelyn Eusebio of PCARRD, secretary; Sonny Tababa of SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center, treasurer; Dr. Mildred Padilla of U.P. Los Baños, auditor; Rudy A. Fernandez of The STAR, PRO; Dr. Vicente Saplala, Edwin Nuevo, and Julio Romeo Chavez, members.

Member-incorporators are Dr. Patricio Faylon, Dr. Edwin Villar, Dr. Elaine Lanting, Dr. Danilo Cardenas, Dr. Leah Buendia, all of PCARRD; and Jose Roxas of IRRI.

During PhilRAA’s organizational meeting, RDA International Technical Cooperation Center (ITCC) director Dr. Dae-Geun Oh extolled the "strong partnership" between PCARRD and RDA.

He expressed optimism that the partnership will go a long way into the future, especially now that PhilRAA has been organized.

Dr. Oh also recalled the Philippines’ assistance to South Korea when it was invaded by North Korea in 1950.

Since 1995, the Philippines (through DOST-PCARRD) and South Korea (through RDA) have been having scientific exchanges for the mutual benefit of both countries.

This year, the two agencies renewed their workplan of cooperation, which focuses on scientific and technological missions in critical fields of mutual benefits.

Areas covered include technology delivery for rural development such as natural dye for handicrafts and natural fibers; development of direct seeding machine for rice cultivation; livestock improvement system, particularly for smallholders; applied communication, including strategies for better information dissemination and documentation/quality production materials for publication; and policy advocacy and governance for effective and efficient R&D management to include administrative systems.